We are routinely (multiple times per week) creating Digicert SSL certificates for our clients in Northwest Indiana and outside of Indiana. We are often asked what is the difference between SSL, TLS, and HTTPS. In this article we are going to do a very high-level explanation so that everyone can easily understand what this very important security is.
What is SSL, TLS, and HTTPS (Super high level)
Are methods of securely transmitting information across the Internet. The information is encoded in a manner that makes it hard to understand unless you are the intended recipient. We say hard as there is no system that cannot be compromised given enough time and energy.
Secure Sockets Layer or SSL
SSL was initial coined by the inventors of the first versions of the protocol, Netscape. Netscape was later bought out by American Online (AOL). This gives you an indication of the age of this encryption method as it was around in the birth of the Internet when it became publically available.
HTTPS or HTTP-within-SSL/TLS
HTTPS is intended to mean is supposed to mean "HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure". Most people when they think of HTTPS will think of standard HTTP traffic encrypted with SSL (or TLS). Only in the last several years have people started to full encrypt traffic using HTTPS. Previously only when credit cards or login pages were being used was HTTPS implemented.
Transport Layer Security or TLS
TLS is the new name for SSL. You will often hear SSL, HTTPS, and TLS used interchangeably. Although this does happen the key to make certain is the encryption method your website uses needs to be TLS.
Conclusion
Make certain your website is capable of having an https:// connection. You may still support standard http:// connections but this is slowly changing where all communication is encrypted with the "S".
With every client that we host their website for we provide TLS for every client using Digicert certificates which is extremely secure and has had no vulnerabilities found in its encryption process. To learn more about how we can help secure your website not just with encryption but updates and maintaining a 24x7 monitoring process on your site give JM2 Webdesigners in Valparaiso Indiana a call at 219-229-1633, email at sales@FawkesDM.com, or use our online contact form here.
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